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Acne

Chances are you know someone with acne and you may have even had it when you were a teen. Did you know that eight in ten teens have acne? It can be a miserable situation but today's treatments are having great results.

In teens as well as adults acne is usually caused by a hormonal imbalance. If an adult has high levels of male hormones it can stimulate the production of sebum.

What is acne?

Acne is a disorder of glands in the skin called sebaceous glands. They secrete a substance called sebum, which is secreted through pores and hair follicles. When the pores become clogged with sebum, acne occurs. Over 15 million people in America have acne and it is considered to be a common occurrence especially among teens.

What are blackheads?

Blackheads occur when sebum are exposed to oxygen and turn into black pimples inside the pore. They are unattractive little black dots on your face, and when squeezed the black head along with infection comes out.

Treatment:

By washing your face at least twice a day you can prevent the oil buildup that encourages acne. Wash your face with your hands or gently with a soft washcloth but never scrub your face. If you are female and want to wear makeup be sure it is "oil-free" or "nonacnegenic" to prevent clogging your pores.

Over-the-counter lotions or creams containing sulfur, salicylic acid and resorcinol can treat mild acne. Proper use of these products will cause the acne to dry and heal. If the acne is bad enough the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic either as a pill or lotion to stop the growth of bacteria.

Vitamin A is known to keep acne under control since it is sometimes known as the skin vitamin. The proper treatment with vitamin A will have to be determined by your doctor since high doses can be toxic. Vitamin C, which is essential to the maintenance of healthy skin, has also been linked to controlling acne. Zinc and Selenium, two minerals known to fight against infection are also known to improve acne.

Today's teens know more about acne than they did 20 or even ten years ago. By keeping your face clean and using the right medication you can control acne and feel better about your face.

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